Chapter 448: The Thorny Mission
“No, according to the Nine Provinces’ description of the Outer Realm Demons, an Earthly Immortal-level Outer Realm Demon shouldn’t possess this kind of power. Could it be that a Celestial Immortal-level Outer Realm Demon infiltrated the Nine Provinces World, and we accidentally collected data on it?”
“This is a major matter. Report it to the President immediately!”
“I think it’s possible that the Human Sovereign of the Nine Provinces used our holographic simulator. I heard the Human Sovereign likes to conceal his identity and observe.”
“That’s indeed a possibility. But regardless, we must still report to the President.”
“So, what should we do with the data we collected this time?”
The project leader thought for a moment and said, “When we initially solicited opinions, the general consensus was to introduce a very powerful enemy, someone challenging. Let’s just assign this data to the final enemy.”
“How about the character design? Male or female?”
“Male… hmm… I need to think about that.”
The project leader muttered softly, weighing the pros and cons. “If the final enemy is modeled after an Outer Realm Demon and the player can’t defeat it, they might complain that we implied the Outer Realm Demons are unbeatable.”
“If the final enemy is based on the Human Sovereign and the player defeats him, it might spread and be seen as defaming the Human Sovereign, creating ideological conflict.”
“Why don’t we just make the final enemy female? That way no one will associate her with the Outer Realm Demons or the Human Sovereign.”
The scientists nodded in approval, praising the idea. Truly worthy of the project leader.
……
[Mission Released: The so-called Spirit Transformation stage means transforming all things into gods. After numerous life-and-death trials, you have perfected the Nascent Soul stage. You need to seek inspiration to breakthrough the Spirit Transformation stage. The Dharmakaya Sect believes in observing all things, learning from their strengths, and combining with one’s own characteristics to shape a unique Dharma Body. This is the best place to find inspiration to breakthrough the Spirit Transformation stage. Please proceed to the Dharmakaya Sect to seek this inspiration and breakthrough the Spirit Transformation stage.]
[This mission cannot be abandoned.]
[Mission Rewards: Half volume of the Dharma Body Scripture, three blue otherworldly flowers, and the Spirit Transformation insights recorded during the Tribulation Transcendence stage.]
“Breakthrough the Spirit Transformation stage?” Jiang Li found this mission extremely tricky. “Could it be asking me to start cultivating all over again?”
Jiang Li recalled cultivation novels from his previous life, where many powerful beings were betrayed by friends or caught in temporal turbulence, losing all their cultivation and then starting anew to reach the peak once more.
Jiang Li dismissed this thought. His cultivation was too high now. Not to mention external forces causing him to lose cultivation, even he couldn’t downgrade himself.
“Let’s discuss this. System, can you release some simple missions like ‘Path of the Human Sovereign’? It’s tough every time you do this.”
The system ignored Jiang Li.
Jiang Li didn’t expect the dumb system to reply. The question was too difficult, beyond the system’s intelligence range.
“By the way, what was this system originally called?” Jiang Li had been calling it the High Blood Pressure System, Garbage System, Fool System, Silly System, and suddenly forgot its original name.
[Counterattack System.]
The system responded.
“Oh, I remember now.”
Jiang Li got up and headed toward the Dharmakaya Sect.
He decided to check it out first.
Jiang Li had never been to the Dharmakaya Sect before. He always believed his own power was the most reliable. Five hundred years ago, when he reached Spirit Transformation, he didn’t hesitate to transform himself into a god and became a Spirit Transformation cultivator.
……
“Father, I just participated in the first Human Sovereign candidate competition. There were so many experts.” Li Nian’er enthusiastically told Li Er about the fishing contest.
At the Dharmakaya Sect, Li Nian’er no longer needed to hide her dragon girl identity and could openly run around with her small dragon horns.
“Especially the two unknown Human Sovereign candidates that Uncle Jiang valued. With cultivation restricted, they took a different path and borrowed others’ powers to complete the competition. They received high praise from Uncle Jiang. Unfortunately, even until the end, Uncle Jiang never revealed who these two Human Sovereign candidates were.”
Li Er raised an eyebrow. This sounded a lot like something Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu collaborated on.
But that shouldn’t be. He hadn’t heard of the Human Sovereign himself joining the candidate competition.
Every time the test ended, the old Human Sovereign would complain to Commander Liu, and if that wasn’t enough, he’d complain to Li Er. Because of this, Li Er had a rough understanding of Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu’s various actions.
“Maybe this is also part of the test. The Human Sovereign hopes you can learn to think independently.”
Li Nian’er suddenly understood.
“Let’s go, let’s go. We’re heading to the other world.” The Wishful Gourd urged Li Er to hurry up. The Wishful Gourd held a high status in that world and was served by many beauties. If Jiang Li hadn’t captured it with the Way of Space, it would have long established a Spiritual Treasure Dynasty there.
“Why rush? It’s rare to go to another world, so of course I need to prepare well.” Li Er fixed his hairstyle in front of the mirror.
“Dad, stop combing. With your crew cut, no matter how much you comb, it won’t help.”
“Who said that.” Li Er used his magical power to make his hair grow rapidly.
“Sect Leader, the Human Sovereign has arrived.”
“It must be that the Human Sovereign has something to entrust us with. Let’s go.” Li Er led the Wishful Gourd and Li Nian’er to greet Jiang Li.
Jiang Li was stunned by Li Er’s disheveled appearance and thought, “Where did this wild man come from?”
“The Human Sovereign’s visit is an honor.”
“No need to be so formal. I just happened to pass by and thought I’d stop to take a look.”
“Hello, Uncle Jiang.” Li Nian’er politely bowed.
“When are you planning to depart for the other world?” Jiang Li had noticed that the Wishful Gourd wasn’t with Yu Yin earlier, and thought the gourd had already gone with Li Er. Now it seemed they hadn’t left yet.
“As the Nine Provinces representative, I must pay attention to my appearance. I’ll leave when I’m ready.” Li Er lifted the hair curtain blocking his eyes.
Jiang Li thought, “You still don’t look as good as the Wishful Gourd. No matter how much you care about your appearance, it’s useless.”
“Is Nian’er about to breakthrough the Spirit Transformation stage?” Jiang Li noticed that Li Nian’er’s cultivation had reached a bottleneck, just one thought away from becoming a Spirit Transformation cultivator.
Li Nian’er smiled sweetly, a proud expression in her smile.
“Have you decided what to visualize to breakthrough the Spirit Transformation stage?”
“Not yet. I plan to visit some elders and senior disciples to see if I can get some inspiration.”
Seeing that Jiang Li wasn’t looking for him, Li Er went back to pack and prepare to depart.
Li Er and the Wishful Gourd left through a temporarily constructed spatial channel. Just as the channel disappeared, a woman’s shout came from afar.
“Li Er, wait! Let me go with you.”
“Li Er’s trip to the other world is a mission from the Human Sovereign. Why are you tagging along, sister?”
Li Er’s wife, Ao Chengcheng, hurried over but missed him and found no trace of Li Er.
The West Sea Dragon King had been advising Ao Chengcheng that Li Er’s trip to the other world was official business, not personal, and she shouldn’t follow him.
“West Sea Dragon King, West Sea Princess, long time no see.” Jiang Li greeted.
“So it’s the Human Sovereign.” The West Sea Dragon King hadn’t expected Jiang Li to be here.
“Mom, what are you doing?” Li Nian’er asked.
“I’m worried that your flirtatious father will fall for a beauty trap in the other world. I can’t rest easy, so I want to follow him to take a look. Unfortunately, I’m a step too late.”